Culture

The Queen Of Tearling – The Book Emma Watson Signed On To Be Part Of A Year Before Its Release

Emma Watson signed on to be a part of the film adaptation of The Queen of the Tearling over a year before the book was even released; and the film rights to the series have been sold, with Harry Potter producer David Heyman on board. This in itself should tell you, this must be one hell of a book! Well, we received an advanced copy of the book everyone is talking about (which hit shelves here in NZ on 18 July) so we can officially confirm, after reading this book, exactly why Miss Watson jumped at the chance to star in the movie adaption of The Queen of Tearling, because this book is an absolute stunner…

There’s something to be said about books that grab you with their first few words, refusing to let go until the very last page, when you, blurry-eyed at 3 in the morning, but elated, finally go to sleep already thinking about the next installment. The Queen of the Tearling held our attention from start to finish, leaving us thrilled and intrigued till the very last page.

Queen of the Tearling is high fantasy with roots in modern society, which makes it unique. It’s an interesting blend of old customs and new technology. The first book in a new fantasy series by debut author Erika Johansen, in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler—and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. She will either become the most fearsome ruler the Tearling has ever known, or be dead within the week.

On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless. Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighbouring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.

But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend – if she can survive.

Johansen shows agility and remarkable imagination. Tearling is a world full of promise and surprises, one that I’m excited to revisit.